Standing room only for Edwards event (pics)

[progressoid]

I just left an Edwards appearance here about an hour ago. Actually about half of us were standing but it was a pretty packed room.

In addition to his attacks on corporations and special interests, he's really pushing rural issues here - small town values, dying economies, gettin' screwed by the man etc. Makes sense. Even though we're a city of about 58K (for you out-of-staters, that's not too bad for Iowa), I think the appeal to rural "values" still hit home for these quasi-urban dwellers.

Going after the hayseed vote may not be a bad strategy for the general election too. Look at how many electoral votes president dipshit got from rural states. Hopefully, the reality that Democrats are better for rural America than Repugs is finally starting to sink in....:shrug:


Anywho, here a couple shots from earlier today:





edited for spelling etc (why isn't 'dipshit' on the spellchecker?)

[K Gardner]

1. GREAT Pics and good report! Good to see people getting excited about something other than

negative attacks. He has a good message and good people behind him.

[progressoid]

4. Wanted to see Biden yesterday but couldn't find the time.

Damn working and paying bills and stuff.

[JohnLocke]

2. Great photos, thanks. K&R.

[jsamuel]

3. awesome!

Thanks for the first person account!

[MethuenProgressive]

5. Looks like a good crowd for a day time event -

- he sure does have a lot of support out there!

[PresidentObama]

6. No retreat, no surrender. The Edwards surge, baby!!

Go John, go!!

[asdjrocky]

7. Great pictures!

I speak form experience, seeing him live is wonderful! Thanks for the post.

[progressoid]

8. Oh, I forgot....There was a few people with Ron Paul signs by the entrance!

Those Paul people are relentless. I got 4 Paul robocalls yesterday.

[Benhurst]

11. I really think we shouldn't treat Ron Paul as the enemy. He is of no

realistic political threat to any of our candidates. He is not only opposed to the immoral and illegal Iraq invasion and occupation; but has a tougher stance on the military/industrial complex than our own candidates. And he has spoken out against the shredding of our Constitution more than our people have.

Granted, I don't like most of his ideas for running the country; but anyone who stands for the preservation of the Constitution and is against a militaristic/fascist foreign policy, is hardly a threat to the Republic. I think his wrong-headed policies should be debated; but he should be given respect for his devotion to the Constitution and for the correct stands he has taken against the military/industrial complex.

OK, you can flame away now.

[annie1]

9. he's so awesome.

[balantz]

10. Thanks for the pics.!

Those people look gung-ho determined to get our man nominated!

:kick: :hide:

Kick down that Washington wall, John!

[ChiciB1]

12. Always LOVE Seeing John Edwards In Action! Thanks For Posting! n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Great pics and great reporting. We don't need no stinkin' MSM!!!!

:thumbsup:

[bullwinkle428]

14. Excellent! I just found out he'll be back

in Coralville on Saturday, and I'll be attending the event. I can give a mini-report to DU on crowd size, enthusiasm, topics discussed, etc.

[MontanaMaven]

15. Awesome, now this is a surge

of regular working people coming to see a warrior and not a star. A gladiator... So "Let's Unleash Hell!".

[Nutmegger]

16. Fantastic photos!!!

Let's do this! Edwards 2008!!!

[mdgarcia]

17. Great pictures

and great report. Thanks for posting this. Cheers.

[Catchawave]

18. Thank you so much !

:kick: 'n' R

[onehandle]

19. Nice. nt

[frogmarch]

20. Great pix! Thanks, progressoid. K&R nt

[Infinite Hope]

21. K&R. Rural Vote = the key reason Edwards is the most electable. n/t

[saltpoint]

22. progressoid, those are some dandy pics of what looked like a

terrific event on the Edwards campaign schedule.

Good for you, and thanks for putting these up for us.

[emmadoggy]

23. I just got a call tonight from his campaign that he will be in my small town again

next thursday. I'm planning to go - it will be my third time seeing him. Man, he sure gets everywhere! This will be his second stop here (the first time was in late Sept/early Oct.) in our small town of 4,500 people in the northeastern-most county in Iowa (which is a red county. Argh! All the counties around us are blue, but I have to live in the one little island of red!)

Anyway, I made a notation on my note to remember to take my camera!!! I've seen him twice before and Richardson once and I never remember to take my camera! :dunce: My kids will be with me since they will be on Christmas break (they're in kindergarten). Hoping to get a pic of the three of us with Edwards - that would be cool! If not, oh well. My daughter was excited about it when I told her. She's asked a lot of questions about the election and such, but it's still mostly all over her head. She thought it was cool when I told her that Edwards has two young children close to her age. She has heard me rant about Bush and so she told me she hopes John Edwards gets to be President so we won't have that bad man George Bush anymore! lol.

Thanks for the report and pics. What town was this in?

[K Gardner]

24. Take lots of pictures !

[progressoid]

28. Apparently he has visited all 99 counties in IA....TWICE.

No other candidate has done that. But, to be fair, they do have to report to Washington every once in a while to "work".

This was at the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs.

[Triana]

25. Thank you. I loves me some John Edwards...

...was talking with someone today who said they had been leaning towards him but were undecided. They have heard and seen Edwards lately and made up their mind that they were definitely supporting Edwards. His message is hitting home with a lot of folks.

[flyarm]

26. Thanks Iowa!! for the pix..i am coming to Iowa Dec 30th -Jan 5th to work on the campaign!

and i can't wait to visit the great state of Iowa!!

I will be helping with volunteer work for Edwards campaign..i could no longer sit on the sidelines!!

I was a Kerry/Edwards delegate for Florida in 2004..and i am used to helping get out rhe vote..so i am coming to Iowa..( may freeze my ..you know what off..but i am a comin!!) ..bought some boots today!!

Go JOHN Go !!!!!!!

FLY

[progressoid]

27. Bring your shorts and sandals - it was 36 degrees here today.

40 tomorrow.

[emmadoggy]

29. You'll need those boots! Another winter storm coming through this weekend.

And let me extend an early WELCOME TO IOWA! It's a great state and you'll meet lots of wonderful people.

Do you know whereabouts in the state you will be?

Very exciting that you are coming to help. Hope you have a wonderful time here.

And dress warmly!!! (Despite what Progressoid says!) Not sure where you are from, but my sister has been helping a little with the campaign in her town and the local Edwards campaign chair that she is working with is from Virginia and he told my sister he can't believe how cold it is here! (And it hasn't even been that bad yet this winter. :P ) He has no boots and has just been wearing a leather jacket. She told him he better get some real winter gear! lol.

Have a great trip!

[flyarm]

30. thank you for the welcome..I am from Florida and NJ..I am from Elizabeth"s county in Fla.

I was an elected delegate for the Kerry/Edwards campaign in 2004 for Florida.

I do have a fur coat..and I lived in Kansas City Missouri and Kansas for many years..so i have a good idea what it will be like..I just got rid of most of the winter clothes when i moved to Florida for winters!

So if you see this real tan lady near the caucus entrance ..that will be me..i am very tan ..its been mid 80"s in Fla!!..and i have been on the beach daily!!

so i am going to bundle up...

I will be in DesMoines ..and they will take me where they need me.

Looking forward to meeting the good people in Iowa!!

Go JOHN go!!

FLY

[emmadoggy]

31. D'oh! Your previous Florida comment didn't even register with me.

Glad that you have an idea of what you are in for, but just so you know, Kansas City and Des Moines have fairly similar climates/temps (I have a sister in Kansas City), but the northern half of Iowa averages noticeably colder temps - so if you get sent further north, be prepared! lol. In my northeast corner of Iowa, our December daytime highs average what Kansas City's nighttime lows are - about a 15 degree difference on average, sometimes more. Today, it is in the mid 30's here (very balmy for us!!), but it is around 50 degrees in KC.
Luckily, as I said earlier, we haven't had any really bad cold blasts yet - just been getting a good amount of snow (ice in southern Iowa).

Once again, have a GREAT TRIP!! Oh, and your deep tan amongst all of our pasty white faces will be a dead giveaway that you aren't from around here!! :P B-)


:hi: